_id

683a1660c782e11e38d1b3aa

id

10592

title

Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score

full_title

Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score

short_title

DHAKA Score

med_description

Classifies dehydration in children <5 years with acute diarrhea.

short_description

Dehydration classification in children <5 years.

slug

dehydration-assessing-kids-accurately-dhaka-score

description

The Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score classifies dehydration in children <5 years with acute diarrhea.

keywords

Dehydration, Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score, DHAKA, DHAKA Score, dehydration score, diarrhea, acute diarrhea, dehydration classification, child dehydration, infant dehydration, dehydration

complaint

[ "Abdominal Pain", "Diarrhea", "Nausea", "Vomiting" ]

formula

The DHAKA Score is calculated by the addition of the selected points:

evidence

measurements

[]

information

Interpretation:

refrences

{ "Clinical Practice Guidelines": [], "Manufacturer Website": [], "Original/Primary Reference": [ { "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26374802/", "text": "Levine AC, Glavis-Bloom J, Modi P, et al. Empirically derived dehydration scoring and decision tree models for children with diarrhea: assessment and internal validation in a prospective cohort study in dhaka, bangladesh. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2015;3(3):405-418." } ], "Other References": [], "Outcomes": [], "Validation": [ { "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27567350/", "text": "Levine AC, Glavis-Bloom J, Modi P, et al. External validation of the DHAKA score and comparison with the current IMCI algorithm for the assessment of dehydration in children with diarrhoea: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Glob Health. 2016;4(10):e744-751" } ], "Validations": [] }

pearls

• Derived and validated in children under 5 years old with acute diarrhea (≥3 loose stools per day for <14 days) in Bangladesh.
• Subjects were classified by percent weight change with rehydration into the following categories: severe dehydration (>9% weight change), some dehydration (3–9% weight change), or no dehydration (<3% weight change).
• Not validated in older children or in cases of dehydration due to non-diarrheal causes.

usecase

Use in children under 5 years old presenting to emergency or outpatient settings with acute diarrhea and suspected dehydration, particularly in resource-limited settings.

reasons

Provides a validated diagnostic model to assess dehydration severity. More accurate than standard clinical judgment alone, especially in differentiating some versus severe dehydration. Outperforms the WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) algorithm in classifying dehydration severity. Helps optimize fluid management decisions, minimizing unnecessary IV fluids while ensuring appropriate treatment for severe cases.

next_advice

This tool should not replace clinical judgment—flags (e.g., shock, altered mental status) should prompt urgent intervention regardless of the score.

next_actions

next_management

No dehydration (score 0–1):

• Encourage fluid intake and continue a normal diet.
• Provide education on warning signs for deterioration.

Some dehydration (score 2–3):

• Supervised oral rehydration therapy (ORT).
• Consider short-term observation in a healthcare setting.

Severe dehydration (score ≥4):

• Initiate IV rehydration immediately.
• Hospitalize if resources allow.
• Monitor for complications (e.g., electrolyte abnormalities, worsening dehydration).

diseases

[ "Child/Adolescent Functional GI Disorders", "Clostridium Difficile Infection", "Colitis", "Dehydration", "Gastroenteritis", "Hyponatremia", "Malnutrition", "Public Health", "Hypokalemia" ]

input_schema

[ { "conditionality": null, "default": 0, "label_en": "<p>General appearance</p>", "mdcalc_info_concept": null, "name": "general", "option_fhir_rules": null, "optional": false, "options": [ { "label": "Normal", "value": 0 }, { "label": "Restless/irritable", "value": 2 }, { "label": "Lethargic/unconscious", "value": 4 } ], "show_points": true, "tips_en": "", "type": "radio" }, { "conditionality": null, "default": 0, "label_en": "<p>Respirations</p>", "md_calc_info_concept": null, "name": "resp", "option_fhir_rules": null, "optional": false, "options": [ { "label": "Normal", "value": 0 }, { "label": "Deep", "value": 2 } ], "show_points": true, "tips_en": "", "type": "toggle" }, { "conditionality": null, "default": 0, "label_en": "<p>Skin pinch</p>", "mdcalc_info_concept": null, "name": "skin", "option_fhir_rules": null, "optional": false, "options": [ { "label": "Normal", "value": 0 }, { "label": "Slow", "value": 2 }, { "label": "Very slow", "value": 4 } ], "show_points": true, "tips_en": "", "type": "radio" }, { "conditionality": null, "default": 0, "label_en": "<p>Tears</p>", "mdcalc_info_concept": null, "name": "tears", "option_fhir_rules": null, "optional": false, "options": [ { "label": "Normal", "value": 0 }, { "label": "Decreased", "value": 1 }, { "label": "Absent", "value": 2 } ], "show_points": true, "tips_en": "", "type": "radio" } ]

instructions

• This tool is intended for use in children <5 years of age in resource-limited settings.
• For patients ≥5 years (including adults), the NIRUDAK Score may be more appropriate.

published

2025-03-11T20:48:36.320Z

purpose

[ "Prognosis" ]

search_terms

[ "dehydration", "Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score", "DHAKA", "DHAKA Score", "dehydration score", "diarrhea", "acute diarrhea", "dehydration classification", "child dehydration", "infant dehydration", "dehydration" ]

seo

{ "keywords_en": "Dehydration, Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score, DHAKA, DHAKA Score, dehydration score, diarrhea, acute diarrhea, dehydration classification, child dehydration, infant dehydration, dehydration", "meta_description_en": "The Dehydration: Assessing Kids Accurately (DHAKA) Score classifies dehydration in children <5 years with acute diarrhea." }

specialty

[ "Family Practice", "Gastroenterology", "Pediatric Subspecialty", "Pediatrics", "Primary Care" ]

departments

[ "Digestive", "Gastrointestinal", "Infectious" ]

tags

[]

version_number

1

versions

[]

related

[]

ismed

false

section

[ "whenToUseViewed", "pearlsPitfallsViewed", "whyUseViewed", "nextStepsViewed", "evidenceViewed" ]

cleaned_departments

[ "gastroenterology", "gastroenterology", "infectious" ]

cleaned_use

[ "Use in children under 5 years old presenting to emergency or outpatient settings with acute diarrhea and suspected dehydration, particularly in resource-limited settings." ]

pub

false